Sirte: Gaddafi loyalists hold out
- 13 years ago
*****RESENDING WITH CORRECTED SPELLING OF 'REMAINING' IN INTRO*****
The latest advance on Sirte by forces fighting for Libya's new interim government was thwarted by heavy missile fire.
Troops still loyal to ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi are putting up stiff resistance in the city of his birth.
The National Transitional Council's failure to take control of this and the one other remaining Gaddafi stronghold raises questions about its ability to control the entire country.
But commanders preparing for another advance on Sirte say they're optimistic.
SOUNDBITE: Anti-Gaddafi forces Field Commander Abdel Al-Tarhouni saying (Arabic):
"We are now near the city of Sirte and the fighters will be directly heading towards Sirte to liberate its civilian population from the tyrants and from the gangs of mercenaries who are inside Sirte."
The price paid in blood in Libya's civil war is all too evident at this hospital in Tripoli where fighters from both sides are getting treatment.
This was a visit by a delegation from the interim government's Defence Ministry.
Complaints of poor medical treatment have provoked criticism of the interim government in recent days.
There have also been small demonstrations in the capital.
In the meantime there are claims and counter-claims about rising civilian casualties in Sirte.
Fleeing residents say those who show support for anti-Gaddafi forces are being executed.
A Gaddafi spokesman says civilians are dying because of NATO air strikes and the anti-Gaddafi offensive.
Paul Chapman, Reuters
The latest advance on Sirte by forces fighting for Libya's new interim government was thwarted by heavy missile fire.
Troops still loyal to ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi are putting up stiff resistance in the city of his birth.
The National Transitional Council's failure to take control of this and the one other remaining Gaddafi stronghold raises questions about its ability to control the entire country.
But commanders preparing for another advance on Sirte say they're optimistic.
SOUNDBITE: Anti-Gaddafi forces Field Commander Abdel Al-Tarhouni saying (Arabic):
"We are now near the city of Sirte and the fighters will be directly heading towards Sirte to liberate its civilian population from the tyrants and from the gangs of mercenaries who are inside Sirte."
The price paid in blood in Libya's civil war is all too evident at this hospital in Tripoli where fighters from both sides are getting treatment.
This was a visit by a delegation from the interim government's Defence Ministry.
Complaints of poor medical treatment have provoked criticism of the interim government in recent days.
There have also been small demonstrations in the capital.
In the meantime there are claims and counter-claims about rising civilian casualties in Sirte.
Fleeing residents say those who show support for anti-Gaddafi forces are being executed.
A Gaddafi spokesman says civilians are dying because of NATO air strikes and the anti-Gaddafi offensive.
Paul Chapman, Reuters